The court also published the first portrait of HRH Princess Leonore Lilian Maria

'Cute and exciting' princess name revealed

Published: 26 Feb 2014 15:10 GMT+01:00

The Royal Palace has revealed the name and title of Princess Madeleine's baby daughter at the official council ceremony in Stockholm.

With parliamentary speaker Per Westerberg and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in attendance, Marshall of the Realm Svante Lindqvist revealed that the baby girl will be called Her Royal Highness Princess Leonore Lilian Maria, and titled Duchess of Gotland. The "e" at the end of Leonore is silent.

"It's cute and exciting," said Mistress of Robes Alice Trolle-Wachtmeister at a press conference following the announcement. "Isn't it the trend in Sweden now to give unusual names? Not everyone can be called Pelle and Lisa."

Indeed, there are only 128 women in Sweden with the name Leonore, 35 of whom use it as a first name, revealed statistics from Statistics Sweden (Statistiska Centralbyrån - SCB).

Last time Sweden welcomed a new princess, the crown princess' first born Estelle, the royal historian Herman Lindqvist caused a fracas by saying the name sounded like it belonged to a nightclub singer.

"We can do quite well without Herman Lindqvist," said a visibly amused Trolle-Wachtmeister when asked if the trucculent historian had been asked whether Leonore was more to his liking.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt speaks with the press after the ceremony.

The prime minister, also in attendance, said it was "not my role" to comment on the name but said he was pleased to have taken part in the council ceremony.

Fredrik Reinfeldt took part in the "konselj" or council as the Swedish constitution requires the king or queen to inform Sweden's government of any royal child's name and title. The ceremony also serves to clarify which of the child's names will be used to address him or her.

The court said the princess will be baptized in the royal palace church (Slottskyrkan) in Stockholm in the summer.

The new princess was born on Friday morning last week to Princess Madeleine and her US husband Chris O'Neill. The family lives in New York. Princess Leonore is now officially fifth in line to the Swedish throne.

The baby princess' parents were engaged in the autumn of 2012. The two were married in Stockholm on June 8th, 2013.

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